MLB Hall Debate: Let Them All In!

We live in a sad, sad world.  The economy is down, pirates seem to be the new vikings, and the all time leaders in home runs and hits are not guarantees for the MLB Hall of Fame.  How insane is that? 

During his prime who would believe that old Charlie Hustle would not be in?  Speaking of possible snubs, the all time home run leader is also not a lock.

Like Rose, Bonds has a dark side.  His has never been confirmed, but in the courts of public opinion, Bonds is all but sentenced due to his proposed steroid use.

Barry Bonds

Like it or not, steroids are a part of baseball history.  As time goes on we hear more and more names of the superstars that used these performance enhancing drugs.  Barry Bonds is likely one of these stars.

I say likely because at this time it is not certain if he really did.  Even if Bonds did take steroids, who cares?  We now know that pitchers took them, sounds like a fair playing field to me. 

Truth is, taking roids does not make you hit a ball, it does not make you see a curve ball, and does not make you push the ball to the opposite field.  It does increase your vitality and decrease the amount of games you miss.

The players should understand that there are risks with taking the often experimental drugs, and that should be on them.  After all steroids saved baseball.  They jump started the game when crowds and audiences were fading. 

Morally, steroids may not be right, but they are a part of the game.  Barry Bonds should not be held out of the hall, he should be ushered in for the record he owns.

Pete Rose

Ol' Mr. Hustle has more hits than anyone to ever swing a bat.  His book was a flop, but his head first slide was a fan favorite.  It has been said that Rose worked harder than anyone.  He had one speed, and that was go!  He never took a play off.  Everything Pete did was one hundred percent. 

Everything including his bad habits.  The worse was his gambling addiction.  Some feel that the worst part was that he bet on baseball, but that is not a true statement, it was his horse gambling that was the worst. 

He loved the track, but back to baseball, he did bet on it.  His betting was far different than the old school Black Sox scandal.  He never bet against his team.  He never did anything on the Field hoping to win off it. 

If anything it says that he had such a trust in his team that he would bet his money that they would win night in and night out.  In a way, he did nothing more than the bookies in Vegas do on any given night.

It would be far different if he changed the way the games were played, but he didn't.  He is the all time hits leader and needs to be in the Hall!

In due time, both of these baseball superstars may get their bid in the MLB Hall of Fame.  Bonds sooner than later, and Rose probably after his death.  Either way it is a sad day that both of these players are not locks for their spot. 

They are two of the best baseball players to ever pick up a bat.  It is time to stop worrying about the past or history of the game, and move forward with the problems we have encountered.

MLB needs to let go of the "love of the game" mantra and grow up.  Start living in the new era of baseball and let these guys in!